title: Disease progression in a patient with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.
abstract: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a severe form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The prevalence and clinical significance of NAFLD/NASH have been increasingly recognized in Western countries but much less known in Asian countries, including Taiwan. Here, we report the case of a 43-year-old man who had abnormal liver tests for 18 years. Retrospective evaluation of his initial clinical, laboratory and histologic findings indicated that the hepatic disorder was compatible with the diagnosis of NASH. Although his liver biochemical tests improved after taking lipid-lowering agents, a liver biopsy 17 years later demonstrated histologic progression of intralobular necroinflammation and perivenular fibrosis. These facts suggest that NASH, albeit mild and slowly progressive, indeed exists in Taiwan. After the control of chronic hepatitis B and C and westernization of the lifestyle in Taiwan, an increasing burden of NAFLD/NASH is anticipated and active prophylactic measures should be implemented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ping-Huei
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.forename: Chun-Jen
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jia-Horng
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.forename: Chia-Tung
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Shun
authors.forename: Pei-Jer
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ding-Shinn
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018450:Disease Progression; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male